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Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne firmly believes that the gentle dentistry approach and outstanding clinical results go hand in hand. By Frank Leggett
Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne is a firm believer and advocate for gentle dentistry. At her practice, Integrated Dental Canberra, she offers a holistic approach that maximises patients’ chances of a calm experience while benefiting from state-of-the-art technology and procedures.
Her business philosophy is ‘dentistry without the dread’. Dr Macri-Etienne utilises a trauma-informed approach that emphasises a safe, supportive and empowering environment, both physical and emotional. Choice, transparency and collaboration are also important.
“Gentle dentistry is my passion, and I gain great satisfaction from treating phobic and special needs patients,” Dr Macri-Etienne says. “No-one loves coming to the dentist, but why not try to make it a positive, joyful experience? I want my clients to look forward to their appointments. While we treat a high proportion of patients with special needs, phobia or anxiety, the vast majority are not in that group. We want those patients to look on us as a dental spa because they feel so good. It’s a calming, relaxed experience and we get to do our best dentistry.”
Comfort menu
The term ‘gentle dentistry’ encompasses a range of techniques and technologies to minimise or eliminate pain and discomfort. At its heart, it’s a patient-centric approach providing a calm, nurturing experience. At the same time, it’s essential that quality work is not compromised in any way.
According to a University of Adelaide study, around 16 per cent of adults and 10 per cent of children suffer from dental anxiety and fear. The dental experience offered by Dr Macri-Etienne directly addresses those issues while making a trip to the dentist more pleasurable for those without fear.
“In a nutshell, we offer a comfort menu,” Dr Macri-Etienne says. “We provide multiple choices for our patients. We have a vagus nerve stimulating device called Pulsetto that reduces anxiety. The device is placed around the neck of the patient for five minutes, prior to the appointment. We can also use nitrous oxide or oral sedation. Weighted blankets are a popular option. Weighted eye pillows induce the release of melatonin and bring on sleepiness.
“I completed a dental acupuncture course through the ADA and offer dry needling for dental purposes. There are also breath-work exercises and principles and applications that are drawn from hypnotherapy.”
The range of options is extensive. By giving the choice to the patient, she believes they are empowered and an active part of the process. One size does not fit all, however, and the choices are tailored to what each patient specifically needs, whether it’s a warm neck pillow, general anaesthetic or happy gas.
Research shows that doing a brief survey before the appointment decreases anxiety levels because it shows we actually care. From a patient’s perspective, we are not ignoring the problem—we are bringing it into the open. If we don’t have that conversation, it raises the level of anxiety.
Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne, founder, Integrated Dental Canberra
“Research shows that doing a brief survey before the appointment decreases anxiety levels because it shows we actually care,” Dr Macri-Etienne says. “From a patient’s perspective, we are not ignoring the problem—we are bringing it into the open. If we don’t have that conversation, it potentially raises the level of anxiety.”
Reasons why
The reasons behind dental phobia are many and include fear of pain and a loss of control. Older generations were treated during a time when drills were noisy and anaesthesia was more rudimentary. Past negative experiences are often carried forward.
“There’s a theory that trauma is stackable,” Dr Macri-Etienne says. “And it doesn’t have to be dental trauma. I see patients with PTSD and other unrelated trauma that often translates into an inability to cope with dental procedures. An increased awareness of ADHD and autism sensory issues means that we now have a better understanding of how some people have trouble coping with light or the feel of gloves. The causes and effects of dental anxiety are broad and widespread.”
Simple answers
After graduating from the University of Sydney in 1999, Dr Macri-Etienne started her career in the rural mining town of Lithgow. She then moved on to work at the Sydney Holistic Dental Centre, followed by practices in Windsor and Gosford. She opened her first practice in Lithgow, followed by Integrated Dental in Katoomba, which is still operating today under different ownership. She also undertook volunteer work in Tonga, Vietnam, Bali and France.
“Integrated Dental Canberra is the third private practice I’ve owned,” she says. “My passion and purpose are to integrate Eastern and Western modalities of treatment and to find simple approaches to the management of dental anxiety and phobia. My personal interest has been the mind-body connection and a trauma-informed approach to managing individuals with special needs.
“Traditionally, treatments for dental anxiety and phobia draw from the principles and practices of trauma-informed cognitive behavioural therapy that can enhance a patient’s capacity to cope with dental procedures.”
Dr Macri-Etienne notes that another therapy that may offer some lessons for dentistry is eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). “Virtual reality devices can potentially work well in this space. There’s a lot of research behind these modalities but they simply don’t suit every patient. I’m looking for simple approaches that are effective solutions,” she says.
Award winner
Integrated Dental Canberra won gold in the Making Waves Award at the Roar Awards in both 2024 and 2025. Presented by the national business group, Roar Success, the practice also won silver in the Wildcat of the Year category in 2024. These awards celebrate small business and medium enterprise around Australia.
“Our awards are not just about excellence,” Stacey Morgan, CEO and founder of Roar Success says. “It’s about doing things differently and leaning into the niche you’ve created. Integrated Dental Canberra won because they have an incredible offering in the field of dental anxiety. Henriette is doing amazing work in making dentistry less confronting for families and individuals. I would happily drive to Canberra so she could give my kids their dental check-ups.”
The Making Waves Award is for individuals shaking up their industry and doing something differently. The Wildcat of the Year rewards businesses that are proudly impacting on their industry.
“We celebrate people who are putting themselves out there,” Morgan says. “We want to acknowledge people who are doing things differently and who are often about more than just the bottom line. Integrated Dental Canberra has created a customer experience that really sets it apart from its competitors.”
Business growth
Integrated Dental Canberra continues to be a thriving business with many patients travelling great distances to be treated by Dr Macri-Etienne and her team. Dr Macri-Etienne’s work with special needs patients has also given her insights into future issues with Australian dentistry.
“The rise in the prevalence of autism disorders paired with the shortage of specially trained dentists could easily become a public health crisis,” she says. “The issue needs to be addressed by creating standards and competency for dental school graduates in treating individuals with special needs.”
For any dental business owners contemplating the gentle dentistry path, Dr Macri-Etienne offers this advice: “Don’t be afraid to try things out. Make your own comfort menu and allow patients to choose their part of the journey to health. There are all kinds of sensory therapies, everything from hand reflexology to reiki to counting techniques to aromatherapy. Be open-minded and you’ll be surprised at how successful these can be.”
Dr Macri-Etienne has recently partnered with the Smile On Clinics group to offer more complex treatment options, such as All-on-4 and advanced implant procedures.
“I’m looking forward to merging our two brands,” Dr Macri-Etienne says. “We’ll be transforming people’s lives with minimal anxiety and fear. The literature clearly shows that when people are anxious, there are more post-operative issues, healing is delayed, they don’t go numb, and they feel more pain. We will be doing good work together.”
